Trail Knowledge

Our nephew Ambroise, suggested this thru-hike. It didn't take long for us (Simon) to purchase guidebooks. Along with the AllTrails app, we were able to coble together our itinerary.

• This GR is typically walked from west to east. We are walking it from east to west. As mentioned above, we are leaving two weeks earlier than the norm and starting from the Mediterranean side, which gives us a warmer start. 
• It is a Grande Randonnées (GR), and therefor is very well travelled with camping, cabins and hostel accommodation along the way.
• Food can be purchased in towns and in hostels. We are never more than three or four days away from a beautiful town with cheese, baguettes, sausages, wine and of course a good coffee! 
• Any camping supplies can be purchased in some of the larger towns along the trail. There are five or six along the 900km trail,

For a look at our itinerary, click here on the image. This itinerary is preliminary and as usual provides all the options for us once we leave our starting point.

Our 2023 GR10 Itineray

Removing Obstacles

Financial

• Plane tickets to Paris were purchased on points.
• Train tickets were purchased to get us from Paris to Perpignan (61 Euros each).
• We have a reservation in a hotel at our starting point due to our late arrival.
• We estimated the cost for camping, hostels, and food to be $2,700.
• Our phone package will allow $1/text and $2/minute for calls,
• We have a hotel reservation in Biarritz, the date is fixed in order to get the train to Paris (99 Euros each).
• We have reserved a 2-night stay in Paris.

The schedule is tight but we have commitments at home and we are also preparing for our next adventure in late July.

​Time Commitment:

• We planned 7 days of travel time.
• Our itinerary was estimated with moderate distances travelled daily through this mountainous area. We plan approximately 46 days to walk the GR10. This includes 5 rest days.
• Hiking season in the Pyrenees is July to October. Being a mountainous area, expect some snow in the early (or late) season.

Health and Fitness:

• The GR10 traverses the Pyrenees mountains. We expect to climb between 500 to 1500 meters daily on rough terrain.
• Our fitness program during the off season gradually built our stamina and strength. We should peak just before leaving for our adventure.
• No inoculations are necessary for travel, although having an up-to-date COVID vaccine, and flu shot is advisable.

Skills:

• This GR is very popular, and we expect it to be well marked. Orientation should be strait forward.
• Backcountry camping skills are a must, as is the “leave not trace” ethics, and water sanitation. Do your part in keeping it pristine.
• There are some black bears, but the herding dogs are the biggest concern. It is best to stay clear of the cattle and sheep flocks grazing in the hills.
• Speaking French is recommended to facilitate communication with hostel hosts and other hikers.

Equipment

On the GR10, we will be carrying all our equipment in our backpacks. The Wheelie will stay at home. We will be purchasing food along the way in markets, grocery stores and at hostels. The fuel for our stove will be purchased once in France.
We purchased new sleeping bags for this season. Our new Western Mountaineering Ultralite bags will keep us cozy.

For footwear, Julie found a pair of Hoka 10-9. She really liked them on the GDT and was lucky to find this discontinued shoe. Simon is trying the Hoka Anakapa. They are similar the 10-9’s but with a shorter heel cushion.

For a detailed list of our equipment click on the image

Nutrition

For this trip, we will depend on small markets and grocery stores. We believe we will be able to purchase items such as granola, trail mix, and bars. We plan on purchasing canned meats, beans, and hard veggies, along with cheese and sausages and create hearty salads and stews.

We will take advantage of the restaurants along the way for more variety.

For more information on the importance of nutrition check out our Nutrition page.

HealTH & Fitness

With each passing year, we are reminded that our time on the trails is precious. Our winter season training keeps us fit and up to now able to pursue challenging trails like this one.
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For detailed information on our exercise routines check out our 'Exercise' page.
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The importance of a 'Spa Day'!